TAXPAYERS are facing a bill of up to £2.5million for a state-of-the-art traveller site at which 13 families will get a kitchen, toilet, shower and living room in their own house next to their caravan.

View of the existing traveller site on Lower Bristol Road in Bath, Somerset[SWNS]

Councillors have agreed funding for the “holiday camp” scheme which also gives residents their own driveway, street lighting, sound proofing and attractive landscaping.

Each of the pitches will cost up to £192,000.

But the travellers now on the site, which is usually only 80 per cent full, said they will leave when it is completed as the rent will be too high.

Critics last night said the plans by Bath and North East Somerset Council – an authority where cuts have slashed children’s and library services – were “unbelievable”.

I think it’s like the Hilton, it’s just a glorified mod-con holiday camp. I agree we need to address the travelling problem and make a site for them but this is over the top

Tim Warren

Tim Warren, Conservative councillor for the Mendip area, said: “When the plans emerged I said it would be cheaper to buy 13 houses with drives, now they’re building the houses as well as the plots.

“It is costing a fortune and I just don’t understand why.

“I have seen the plans, the buildings are really expensive.

“I think it’s like the Hilton, it’s just a glorified mod-con holiday camp. I agree we need to address the travelling problem and make a site for them but this is over the top.”

He added: “People currently living on the site say they will be leaving once it is done because it will be too expensive for them.

“It will just be shifting the problem elsewhere. We are not against there being a site. But this is unbelievable, the money is ridiculous.”

Jonathan Isaby of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “It’s madness that local residents’ council tax could be wasted on facilities for people who have apparently said they’ll move on as soon as they’re built.

“The amount of cash being spent per pitch is staggering and it will be hard-pressed taxpayers who foot the bill.”

Bath and North East Somerset Council plans to spend £1.72million for the 13-pitch site at Twerton with a further £750,000 coming from the Homes and Communities Agency.

The agency agreed to provide its share on condition that the pitches comply with certain standards, including being fenced off and having an amenity building.

The authority said it had a duty to identify a number of gypsy and traveller sites and claimed the development work was necessary to stop unauthorised traveller sites being set up around the area.

A decision is due on June 4. If approved, the revamped site is expected to be completed by next March.